First, a few figures. Let’s start with the Physical Activity Guidelines. For children aged 4 to 18, these prescribe:
- One hour of moderate-intensity physical activity per day. This means raising the heart rate and breathing more quickly. Examples include cycling, trampolining and horse riding.
- Bone- and muscle-strengthening exercises three times a week. Bone-strengthening activities are those in which your body is loaded with your own weight, such as jumping, climbing stairs, running and dancing. Muscle-strengthening activities improve the strength and endurance of the muscles. Examples include running, playing football, playing tennis and doing fitness exercises.
- Far from all children meet the Physical Activity Guidelines. Among children aged 4 to 11, 55.9% meet the Physical Activity Guidelines; among children aged 12 to 17, this is only 40.5%.
Now for the hard reality:
How are your pupils doing?
A short Physical Activity Test is available, which provides insight into children’s physical activity behaviour. You can complete the test together with a child aged 4 or over. The results show what is already going well and in which fun, simple ways a child can incorporate more physical activity into their day. The test results also make it easier to start a conversation about physical activity. As a teacher, you can complete the test together with a pupil, or you can ask the parents to do so.
Physical activity interventions for schools
There are many different so-called interventions to encourage children to participate in more sports and physical activity. A complete overview can be found at www.sportenbeweeginterventies.nl. Rebecca Beck describes a number of examples that specifically contribute to meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines through education.
The Daily Mile
With The Daily Mile, the class walks or runs together for 15 minutes several times a week. The aim of this approach for children from Year 3 onwards is to improve endurance. This enables them to sustain physical activities for longer and enjoy doing so.
Beweegwijs
Beweegwijs creates structure in the school environment and makes the playground suitable for more enjoyable play and active learning. It becomes a place where every child feels safe to play. This playground method creates six different zones in the playground, with games and materials that correspond to the pupils’ social-emotional development. Before school, during breaks, in childcare and after school, children can choose which zone they want to play in.
PLAYgrounds
Did you know that 60% of children do not engage in physical activity during breaks, partly because of the social hierarchy that exists in a playground? The most skilled player often determines the game, meaning that children who are less skilled cannot participate, or can do so only to a limited extent. Yet these children especially need to play and be physically active enough to become more skilled. The PLAYgrounds approach creates a pedagogically safe environment in which children are encouraged to be active at their own level. After an enjoyable and active break, children can start their lessons again with renewed energy.
Schoolsportvereniging
Through the Schoolsportvereniging concept, schools and sports clubs work together to bring sports activities closer to children. The ultimate goal is for children to participate in sports regularly and sustainably by joining a sports club. Sports club trainers provide training at school or nearby immediately after school. This makes the barrier to participating in sports as low as possible. Your pupils can practise a sport through the Schoolsportvereniging for a maximum of two years. After that, they must move on to the club’s regular programme.
Brain breaks and energisers
Many primary school teachers use energisers during lessons to regain their pupils’ attention. Energisers (or brain breaks) are short periods of physical activity lasting 5 to 10 minutes. Research shows that, after a short physical activity break, children are able to maintain their attention on school tasks for longer. It gives them a chance to relax and/or release energy so they can get back to work feeling refreshed.
- The attractively designed inspiration document ‘Recipes for more physical activity at school without the hassle’ contains a list of ideas for teachers to encourage children to be more physically active at and around school. The activities are easy to carry out and require few materials.
- The 10 physical activity breaks from Onderwijs Maak Je Samen are also available as a free download.
- You can also find fun exercises and breaks at Smartbreaks and Smartmoves activity breaks.
- Or take a look at the school board portal for energisers, such as the ‘Just Dance’ videos.
Additional tips for more physical activity
Rebecca Beck also offers physical education teachers some additional tips for increasing physical activity:
- During physical education lessons, focus on one hour of moderate-intensity physical activity, as well as muscle- and bone-strengthening activities. Discuss with the pupils what they enjoy doing.
- Focus on taking small steps with inactive pupils. Every bit of extra physical activity during the day helps, such as taking a walk around the block or playing outside.
- Or point out to pupils the benefits of active transport to school. The percentage of children who are driven to school by car is increasing. Research shows that children in Years 5 to 8 say they would rather cycle to school than be driven there by their father or mother. A good example is organising ‘wheels days’, when children are allowed to come to school by bicycle, scooter, roller skates or skateboard.